Mythological Contours Week 3

Mermaid

Micron pen & color wash on Canvas
16”x20”

Minotaur

Micron pen & color wash on canvas
16”x20”

Picasso, Bull’s Head

Marcel Dzama, Untitled

6 thoughts on “Mythological Contours Week 3”

  1. Hello everybody!,

    As you can see, the technique that I’m using on my work changed a lot compared with the past two weeks. I decided to experiment with different techniques using contour lines , and other materials. Because I did not truly like to use acrylics to fill the contour drawings, my initial plan when started these drawings was to just do the contour drawings. Once I finish the contour drawings, I feel that the canvas felt kinda empty, and even though the lines had different weights, I felt it wasn’t enough volume, therefore I decided to do a wash over them remarking even more those volumes with darker washes. The decision of adding a wash was also to add a bit of color, because I noticed that a lot of people really liked my past drawings that had color on them. Another decision was to stick with one color of wash for each drawing because the different values of the wash would be more obvious. I really liked the result.

    Thank you and stay safe!,
    Ali A,

    1. Hi Ali! I really love these drawings! Definitely your best ones yet. I like how they are similar styles but still different, and I am so glad you chose to stick with one color per image. The shading in the bike is especially impressive. The background of the minotaur one (the wash with city details) is a smart way to deal with backgrounds. It gives the image depth but doesn’t distract from the subject. I feel like you should just keep doing these with different colors and fun scenes and characters. They would make a really cool collection! Great job!

  2. Hi Ali,

    Last week’s drawings felt like you were phoning it in and spinning your wheels. There should have been more drawings (at least one or two), and more resolved drawings. It’s also peculiar trying to figure out what she’s doing—it’s an odd pose.

    But this week’s drawings feel like a real breakthrough, getting to a much richer crossroads of mythology and pop culture. I’m curious about these two characters and want to know more about them (rhetorically, that is, the same way I want to know more about the Mona Lisa or Bob Dylan’s lyrics).

    The formal decisions in the mermaid are terrific, the way the oval captures the “bubble” of the car interior and echoes her fins and the curve of her back. More like this one, please.

    Also the unusual and appealing sense of color and the way it’s applied. I’d love it if this was one frame from a graphic novel, which feels like the natural home for images like these.

    The other image is also a winner. I might wish for a little more space between the bottom edge and the tire on the bike to put him more firmly in the space, but I love the mise-en-scene and the watery atmospheric perspective, the tie blowing in the breeze, and not least of all the lovingly rendered empty basket. What does a minotaur need a bicycle basket for? Funny to imagine….

    This also brought to mind the piece by Picasso that I’ve added above.

    I’m also reminded of the illustrator Marcel Dzama, attached. Check out more of his work.

    In any case, please keep this up. You mentioned that this week you were experimenting. STOP. Experimenting is over. Not only have you arrived, but where you’ve arrived is a great place to stop and explore.

    Please remember that this last project of ours is about creating a unified series of works. We have too little time for new adventures. Save them for another day. It’s time to make a suite of these.

  3. Hi Ali,

    I love the bicycle piece! The delicacy of the line, especially in describing the form of the bicycle and the minotaur is wonderful. I think you did a nice job with the wash too. There is a great contrast between the light wash in the background city and the details of the spokes of the bike.

    Your work this week is very conceptually strong. I like Mark’s reference to the Picasso statue. Super interesting. I agree with Perrin and Mark: keep making these!

    The mermaid piece is compelling as well. For me, the color feels very vibrant, and I prefer the more neutral coloring of the minotaur piece, but I fully support your decision to use color. Your drawing ability is very impressive. The expression that you capture in the mermaid’s face is one of my favorite parts. Well done!

  4. Ali, wonderful work again! I feel there is a deeper story behind your drawings. I don’t know if it was your aim but to me, they communicate the energy, tension, chaos, creativity of the age we’re in and the age you are. So, in Mermaid, the blue is not the calm color of water but something slightly troubling, and the car is crammed with… things, and the mermaid has attitude. All of this with just contour lines and a single-color wash. If you were to write a book, this would be a good cover. I’m puzzled by the mermaid’s… fins? But maybe that too is deliberate, to indicate that there is more for the viewer to discover.

    Minotaur is fabulous. You’ve really captured the posture of a cyclist and (again?) the rushing of the times. It really is an appealing, intriguing drawing. The flapping tie gives it motion. I wonder if you could emphasize the movement even more by tilting the figure downward, so the rider pitches forward, and perhaps blurring the back wheel? As is, the body says it’s going fast downhill while the wheels suggest level ground or even uphill, and the detailed basket slows the figure down. These are small things, though. You’ve hit upon an exciting drawing/painting style.

  5. Hello everybody!

    Thank you for your comments! I will definitely going to take in count your comments about movement, color, and postures. Thank you so much Mark for recommend me Marcel Dzam, I just became obsessed with his work.

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